Cemetery Archives - Lost In Michigan

Michigan’s Haunted Mouth Cemetery

Posted on October 20, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, Haunted Places .

Near the mouth of the White River not far from Montague is an old cemetery. The cemetery’s name comes from the fact that it is near the mouth of the river. The oldest known burial in the cemetery dates back to 1851, but there are unmarked graves that date back even further. It’s said that an Indian village existed at the mouth of the river a long time ago. An attack by an enemy tribe killed off most of the villagers and some of their remains lay buried in the old cemetery.

People have claimed to hear footsteps following them around the cemetery and when they turn around to see who it would be there is nobody there. Others say that strange mists and screams come from the surrounding woods. It is an old cemetery and one of the most famous residents is William Robinson. the former White River lighthouse keeper who is said to haunt the old lighthouse not far from the cemetery. you can read my post about it HERE

There is also an urban legend about a young man who sat in a chair that existed in the old cemetery. It was exactly one year after he sat in the chair that he died in a car accident. It was said that many people came to the cemetery to sit in the infamous chair but it has been removed.

When I visited nothing strange happened. It was a little overgrown, but a beautiful old cemetery. I did notice a rather unique looking headstone in the back with face masks of the husband and wife to mark their final resting place.

If you visit, please be respectful so that it will remain open to visitors.

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A Campsite with a Grave

Posted on October 1, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, people .

Michigan has thousands of campsites all across the state for people to enjoy the great outdoors. Campsite number 4 at the Ossineke State Forest Campground, south of Alpena, is unique. It is a beautiful campsite overlooking Lake Huron. Next to it is a stone marker for the gravesite of A.J. Michalowski. A sign next to it reads:

Born 3-16-1839 Died 11-6-1865

Buried here in 1865, where his body washed ashore, he worked at the old Oliver sawmill. He lived in Ossineke. Drowned while attempting a trip to Alpena across thunder bay in a small sailing craft.

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The Ghost Town of Onominese

Posted on August 17, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, Ghost towns .

Rows of white wooden crosses stand in a simple cemetery near Lake Michigan. The people laid to rest under them is all that remains of Onominese. A small Indian village named after the Indian Chief Onominese. ( also spelled Onominee) The town was about five miles north of Leland, in the Leelanau Peninsula on Lake Michigan. The people that lived there mostly traveled to the town by canoe as there were no roads that led to the village.

Reverend Smith traveled through crude forest trails almost every Sunday from Northport to conduct church services. A small schoolhouse was built after the Civil War ended in 1865. Besides bringing religion and education to the native Americans the white man brought an epidemic of smallpox and diphtheria that killed off most of the small village’s population. It is the white crosses of those that died which stand in the field near Lake Michigan to tell the story of the small Indian village that once was.

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The Ghosts of Rattle Run

Posted on July 22, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery .

Along Rattle Run Road is an old cemetery. It is all that remains of the town of Rattle Run. The town was named after the Rattle Run river that runs nearby. The creek was given the name because on a quiet night the water running over the pebbles made a rattling sound. The town is gone but the memory of one of Michigan’s most infamous murders still remains. You can read about it in my post HERE

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Michigan Is Home To The Smallest Military Cemetery

Posted on May 31, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery .

Most people can envision the rows and rows of headstones of brave veterans laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Michigan is also home to a few large national cemeteries like the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly or Fort Custer National Cemetery near Battle Creek. On a hill overlooking Camp Grayling is a small cemetery containing two American soldiers. The Stars and Stripes wave at the top of a hill in Hansen Hills Recreation Area. It is there among the trees you will find a fence with a sign U.S. GOVERNMENT MILITARY CEMETERY.

Laid to rest are Private First Class John A. Conroy and Private George A. Laine. Conroy serving in the National Guard at Camp Grayling when he died of pneumonia in August 1927. Laine drowned in nearby Frog Lake on July 14, 1939. It is lost to history as to why the men were buried where they are but they would not have been eligible to be buried in a National Cemetery since both soldiers were on duty with the State Militia, as opposed to the active Army. The little cemetery is maintained by Camp Grayling and if you take the path for the disc golf course you will come across this little graveyard for two men who deserve to be remembered.

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Great Lakes National Cemetery

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery .

There are times when words elude me and it’s difficult to express my thanks and appreciation for the people who so valiantly served in protecting our freedom. I guess in this instance I will let my photo speak for itself.

The Great Lakes National Cemetery is a few miles north of Holly and borders Fagan Lake on a portion of land granted from the Federal Government to Terrance Fagan in 1836. In the 20th century, the property was purchased by Bryson Dexter Horton, a Spanish-American War veteran-turned-industrialist who invented the “Square D” switch which dramatically improved electrical safety. Mr. Horton constructed a small house on the property in 1927, and reportedly entertained prominent people such as Henry and Edsel Ford, who both hunted and fished on the property. In 2005, the Great Lakes National Cemetery was established and the first burial took place on October 17 of that year. it’s a few minutes off I75, and if you are near it, I recommend stopping for a visit, it’s an awe-inspiring sight to see.

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Not Forgotten

Posted on May 28, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery .

I saw this tombstone for W.R. McCave with the Stars and Stripes flying next to it in an old cemetery west of Vanderbilt I am not sure who he was or his story but carved on his tombstone he was born in 1822 and died in 1904. He was also in the 8th Michigan Infantry. I visit several old cemeteries on my travels around Michigan and I see these old tombstones for veterans from long ago. While they may not be buried in a national cemetery with hundreds or thousands of other veterans they deserve to be remembered and honored for their service.

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The Most Beautiful Cemetery in Michigan

Posted on May 23, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, Churches .

Rows of simple wooden crosses mark the Odawa Indians laid to rest in the Middle Village Cemetery next to the historic Saint Ignatius Catholic Church. The cemetery and church are near Good Hart on M119, between Harbor Springs and Cross Village. The village is along the ” Tunnel of Trees” route that follows the shoreline of Lake Michigan. I am not sure if there is an official ranking of cemeteries, but what I do know, is it sure was a beautiful place when I visited it.

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Michigan’s Circus Train Disaster

Posted on May 20, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, Train Depots .

On August 6th, 1903, the Wallace Bros. Circus’s two trains traveled from Charlotte Michigan to Lapeer. The first train stopped in Durand at 8:30 in the morning and put up a red signal to alert the second train. When the engineer applied the brakes they failed and realizing a collision was inevitable, the engineer and fireman jumped from the locomotive. The train crashed into the rear of the first train with tremendous force killing 22 men sleeping in the rear railroad car. Four other men would die at the hospital. Several animals died from the collision and were buried at the site. Many of the bodies were so badly disfigured they were not recognizable and unable to be identified. Ten of the unknown corpses were buried at Lovejoy Cemetery a few miles south of Durand. A stone obelisk was erected and carved on it the words.

In Memory of the Unknown Dead. Who Lost Their Lives in the RAILROAD WRECK of the GREAT WALLACE SHOWS August 6, 1903

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The Dead of Spring

Posted on March 24, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery .

It is that time of year when the snow is gone and it will be a while until the trees have green leaves. March and April is always a challenging time of year for me. Nature is dormant and it makes it difficult to take nice looking happy photographs. My favorite time of year is when Autumn leaves are at their peak color. Early spring is my least favorite. At least in the winter fresh white snow hides the leaves that have died and fallen to the ground. I still like to travel and explore but I tend to post pics that are black and white since nature is mostly devoid of color.

This pic is from the old Port Crescent Cemetery hidden in the woods not far from the state park near Port Austin. I am looking forward to spring flowers but we gotta get through the April Showers first. Thank you for taking the time to read my posts and I hope you enjoy them even if the next few weeks are gonna be a little drab and dreary.

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